For most people using tobacco, tobacco urges or cravings to smoke can be a lot hard. But you are not the follower of these cravings. When the urge to use tobacco increases, remember it can be intense and you get to have no control over yourself, but it will pass within 5-10 minutes whether you take tobacco or smoke a cigarette.
If you want to live longer and be healthier, then you better stay away from cigarettes and consider detox programs from Mallardlake Detox. Each time when you get a craving, you are a step closer to stopping tobacco and for your good.
Here are some of the ways that will help in resisting the urge to smoke or use tobacco when the craving comes up.
- Stay away from triggers
The urge of tobacco is usually stronger when the situations like where you chewed tobacco or smoked often, such as bars or parties, or sipping coffee or feeling stressed. Know your trigger situations, make a plan so you could avoid them entirely or get through them without any use of tobacco.
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Talk to your doctor about the therapy. Some of the options include:
- Nicotine gum, patches and lozenges
- Prescribed nicotine in an inhaler or nasal spray
- Medications
Short-term therapies can help with cravings. They can be used safely if combined with patches or non-nicotine medicines.
As an alternative, e-cigarettes had gained a lot of attention. However, it’s still not clear about its benefits as a lot more study is needed.
- Chew as much as you crave
Give your mouth the best chewing tobacco alternatives so that you can fight the cravings. Have something more satisfying.
- Delay
If you feel like you are going to give in to your craving for tobacco, tell yourself that you have to wait more than 10 minutes and in the meantime, do something so that you feel distracted. Try visiting the places free from the smoke-zone. These methods are enough to get rid of the cravings.
- Indulge physically
Keep yourself busy in physical activities which help in distracting from tobacco cravings and reduce the intensity. Even running and coming up and down from the stairs a few times can make your craving go away. Go out for jogging or walking.
If you are stuck in the office or home, try to do some usual exercise. If physical activity is something that you don’t like, try needlework, prayer, meditation, yoga, journaling, or anything that excites you. You can also distract yourself while filing paperwork or vacuuming.
- Online support can help
Join the online program to stop smoking or read something encouraging on the internet like a story of some person who has experienced the same thing. This will motivate you. Learn how others have handled their cravings.
- Practice relaxation techniques
You might consider smoking as the thing to deal with stress. Resisting the cravings of tobacco can itself be stressful. Get yourself out of it by practicing techniques like muscle relaxation, deep-breathing exercises, massage, visualization, or listening to good music.
Trying something to beat the craving is always better than sitting ideal. And every time you resist it, you are just a step closer to being a tobacco-free person.